tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840Wed, 21 Feb 2018 22:04:07 +0000book reviewfictionnon-fictionMSwritingfavoritesparentingESphotostravelwomen's fictionblogosphereYSYAnostalgiafunnyappearancetweenfaithrantCBLIhomecancerdepressiondealsNaNoWriMohistorical fictionboy behaviorbooks for boysTrevormemoirGod's graceEnglandvideohighly recommendINfavorite sitesBryceartchildren'sreadingdogrecipeChristmasmusicprayerAmeliaThe Salvation Armybirthday partiesmysterycluttergiveawaygood newsclean readteachersweathercakescamphubbyAwardsFriendsmiddle grademoviesdate nightsleepthrillerDeKalbpetsSeanabandoned bookslettersreconciliationleukemiapuzzlesChicagoKate DiCamillobraindietmarriagemedical interventionpoetryschoolstudentsteenagersCMIKatjashort storieswordsgo-kartinggospelhumorEasterfantasygamesgender-specific bookslyricsmiscarriagepartiesBMVBibleLet Books Be BooksParisRomeThe Great Interview ExperimentThe Great Interview Experiment; must-reads; blogrolldementiadevotionalnothing wastedredemptionresolutionstheateryearly focus wordOf Books and BoysA blog about books I'm reading and boys I'm raisinghttp://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Wendy)Blogger1539125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-2877582511070065766Tue, 20 Feb 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-02-20T07:00:05.852-08:00book reviewbooks for boysclean readdogfavoritesfictionhighly recommendYABook Review: Trouble - Highly Recommend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7Ai10ChtWo/WoG1q7DWK_I/AAAAAAAAIBs/jTD8Qr7TbCc_sV6QqBAumT-v_I-2fDurACLcBGAs/s1600/trouble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="231" height="188" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7Ai10ChtWo/WoG1q7DWK_I/AAAAAAAAIBs/jTD8Qr7TbCc_sV6QqBAumT-v_I-2fDurACLcBGAs/s200/trouble.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The more I read Gary D. Schmidt's books, the more I fall in love with his writing. I highly recommended <i><a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2013/12/book-review-wednesday-wars.html">The Wednesday Wars</a></i>, a fine piece of historical fiction, and <a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2014/01/book-review-okay-for-now.html"><i>Okay for No</i>w</a>, an outstanding example of voice mastery. I enjoyed this book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Trouble/dp/B001CA5W50">Trouble</a></i>, every bit as much as those two previous offerings. I listened to the book in audio form and could not wait to begin my daily treadmill time so that I could continue with the story and find out what would happen to these delightful, vulnerable characters.<br /><br />From the very first sentence when Henry's father tries to convince him that if you build your house far enough away from trouble, it will never find you, we know that trouble is destined to make an appearance in Henry's comfortable, secure life. It first shows up in an accident where a pickup truck, driven by a Cambodian immigrant, plows into his older brother Franklin. As the petals of grief unfold for the family, causing his father to avoid work, his mother to don a brave face, and his sister to retreat in silence to her room, Henry must work through his anger and forge a new path. That new path begins when he rescues a mangy dog from the sea.<br /><br />With Black Dog at his side, Henry interprets his brother's one word utterance, "Katahdin," as an appeal for Henry to climb the steep mountain alone. Before the accident, Franklin was sure Henry&nbsp; couldn't make the climb. Now Henry is more than eager to prove himself and to flee a house shrouded with confusion and grief. But when Henry encounters the driver of the pickup along the way, he begins to realize that you cannot run from trouble.<br /><br />I've been pondering how great authors unveil clues to a story a bit at a time so that the reader only slowly comes to understand the full dynamics of the truth. Schmidt does a stellar job of this. He has placed the clues expertly, with perfect pacing, so that the facts reveal not only deep truths about the story, but also deep truths about human experience. I highly recommend this novel and warn you that you just might feel a lump develop in your throat. At the same time, I know you will agree with the author's conclusion in the final chapter, when he says, "The world is trouble and grace. That is all there is."<br /><br />As I think about this novel, I really wish that my son's teacher had selected this one instead of <i>Monster</i>, because it not only treats racial tensions, but it brings out the resilience of the human spirit and reveals the appearance of grace in the midst of trouble. It provides plenty of discussion-worthy topics and inspires the reader to reach for greatness. It metes out forgiveness alongside responsibility. Moreover, it does all of that without presenting anything that parents might find controversial or undesirable for their student's consumption. It was, in my eyes anyway, a far superior choice.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-trouble-highly-recommend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-1493200333538326377Sat, 17 Feb 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-02-17T07:00:06.052-08:00book reviewbooks for boysfictionparentingtweenYABook Review: Monster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7LmkR8cT-c/WnocDYXXseI/AAAAAAAAIBc/ehXrDyJR0lIkGloEgAIFsO113PalPE4lACLcBGAs/s1600/monster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="188" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7LmkR8cT-c/WnocDYXXseI/AAAAAAAAIBc/ehXrDyJR0lIkGloEgAIFsO113PalPE4lACLcBGAs/s200/monster.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>This wasn't a selection I normally would have picked out for myself, but it was thankfully a very quick read (Trevor was flabbergasted when I read it entirely in one afternoon). Trevor required a parent signature in order to read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Walter-Dean-Myers/dp/0064407314">this assigned text</a> for his 7th grade language arts class. I immediately thought, "What's in the book to make it controversial?" In the end, I signed the form to allow Trevor to read the book.<br /><br />Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon is an African American boy standing trial for participating in a robbery gone wrong that ended in murder. Although he didn't hold the gun or pull the trigger, he allegedly served as lookout man casing the store before the thugs entered. Steve decides to present his case, his trial, and his feelings by writing a play about the proceedings. Through his script, the reader experiences his fear and trembling while facing the consequences of wanting to appear tough on the street.<br /><br />I suppose the teacher was concerned some parents might not appreciate this assigned book because it references some horrendous behaviors that take place in the prison. While nothing happens directly to Steve, he does overhear things. I talked with Trevor briefly about the sexual attacks that often take place in prisons. I'm not concerned about this reading material, but I can see how some parents might wish to shelter their tween or teen from such realities. I appreciated the teacher's effort to alert parents. It does provide discussion-worthy content. However, if I look at this selection from a teacher's perspective, I feel there are so many more deserving books out there to inspire our students and to move their hearts and souls. I'm not sure it would have made the cut if I'd been in charge.<br /><br />Indeed - stay tuned for my next book review post - a YA book that I feel would have been a better choice to prompt discussion about racial tensions in a far more productive and edifying manner.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-monster.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-6313021828733962884Wed, 14 Feb 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-02-14T07:00:11.888-08:00book reviewfictionmysteryYABook Review: Truly Devious<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oVz0IpdgAPc/WnXro4WUWlI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/LT4feajDXyAgW9wbrzbVh2y4wZWmdkAvwCLcBGAs/s1600/trulydevious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="187" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oVz0IpdgAPc/WnXro4WUWlI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/LT4feajDXyAgW9wbrzbVh2y4wZWmdkAvwCLcBGAs/s200/trulydevious.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>I recognized this author's name from her book called <i><a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2011/08/book-review-13-little-blue-envelopes.html">13 Little Blue Envelopes</a></i>. I knew I'd enjoy that one because it was an epistolary novel about England. This one, however, was billed as a murder mystery. I was intrigued. Alas, it was only after I secured the book and glanced ahead to see how many pages were in the whole that I realized it was the first book in a series. Generally, I like to read series books only once the entire series is made available. I'm not patient enough for the endless waiting to know how the story line is resolved. As expected, this one ends with an open-ended clue of more to come. I will have to wait out the next installment (<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Truly-Devious-Mystery-Maureen-Johnson/dp/0062338056">Truly Devious</a></i> only came out on January 16, 2018 - I might have been the first library patron to read it).<br /><br />Stevie Bell is a devoted fan of mysteries and true crime stories. In fact, the only reason she's at the famous Ellingham Academy (a private school in Vermont where qualifying students attend for free) is due to her intense desire to solve the crime that occurred on the grounds some eighty years before. Back in 1936, the founder's wife and daughter were mysteriously kidnapped. At the same time, a student at the school disappeared. While the bodies of the wife and student were found, the daughter's whereabouts remain unsolved. Stevie is sure that if she can get closer to the evidence (including the death threat riddle sent shortly prior to the crime), she will prove her detective chops and solve the case. Sadly, before she can solve that crime, another one occurs on the grounds and Stevie herself witnesses a troubling further riddle. Has the anonymous murderer who goes by "Truly Devious" struck again?<br /><br />As School Library Journal proclaims, "Fans of puzzles, boarding school stories, and true crime will tear through this book and love every minute." I also agree with author John Green, who calls it "compulsively readable." While I didn't fall in love with any other character besides the protagonist, I was certainly swept into the tale. The writing felt absolutely effortless, almost like the story was dictated by some external force. Every sentence lures the reader in further. I did have a bit of trouble keeping the many characters straight, but the author managed the time hops quite well (she jumps, without any difficulties whatsoever, from a story of murder set in the 30s to a present-day cast of characters exploring the murder as a cold case). That is saying something.<br /><br />The sad thing? I'm left hanging, wondering about the many clues uncovered. Plus, because the story is so intricate, I have a feeling when the next installment finally comes out, I'll have to reread this first bit to keep the many characters, clues, and contexts straight. At this point, I'm a fish on a hook. I feel powerless to fight against the line reeling me in.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-truly-devious.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-8455131201230524738Sun, 11 Feb 2018 19:01:00 +00002018-02-11T11:01:07.699-08:00book reviewfictionhistorical fictionmiddle gradetweenBook Review: Bird in a Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ix-YKDu_0B0/WnNmfxUVsyI/AAAAAAAAIBA/1U-KHjVlYK4K341ZfqSVAqJrY803xVrEgCLcBGAs/s1600/birdinbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="186" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ix-YKDu_0B0/WnNmfxUVsyI/AAAAAAAAIBA/1U-KHjVlYK4K341ZfqSVAqJrY803xVrEgCLcBGAs/s200/birdinbox.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>Once again, I was enticed by this audio tween selection, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bird-Box-Andrea-Davis-Pinkney/dp/0316074020">Bird in a Box</a></i>, because it promised an expanded afterward by the author. I love to hear the author's personal take on what inspired them to write the novel, what details are based on fact, and what challenges they faced in the writing process. I was not disappointed. The story was engaging and the author information provided a great writing perspective.<br /><br />Here's the blurb from the back cover:<br /><br />"In a small upstate New York town during the Great Depression, three children - Hibernia, Willie, and Otis - are about to meet. Hibernia dreams of becoming a famous singer and performing at Harlem's swanky Savoy Ballroom. Willie is recovering from a tragedy that prevents him from becoming a junior boxing champ. Otis spends every night glued to the radio, listening to the voices that remind him of Daddy and Ma.<br /><br />"Each of them is looking for hope, and they all find it in the thrilling boxing matches of young Joe Louis. They know Joe has a good chance of becoming the country's next heavyweight champion. What they don't know is that during this unforgettable year, the three of them will become friends."<br /><br />Author Andrea David Pinkney did an outstanding job of capturing the voice of each child. I loved Hibernia's sass. I felt sorry for Otis's loss. Plus I raged at Willie's treatment at the hands of his own father. I was slightly annoyed by Willie's tendency to repeat the guttural "Uh-huh," but I understand the author was attempting to capture a flavor of character and it probably wouldn't have bothered me on the printed page because I could skim over it quickly. All in all, she captured a period of history and highlighted a special aspect with great skill.<br /><br />I loved listening to the author's comments about her process and goals. I was impressed with her desire to get inside the heads of her characters by actually training for boxing matches herself. The research comes through solidly and fleshes out the characters, the time, and the place.<br /><br />I had to transcribe this paragraph from the final comments because it inspired me to press on with my own writing goals. She observes:<br /><br />"They say that writing is part inspiration, part perspiration. After my work on <i>Bird in a Box</i>, I've come to believe that if I want to inspire people with my writing, I have to do more than sweat. I have to train, reach, fight my resistance, and keep going for it no matter how sore I get, because like 'Mighty Joe Louis' and the kids in <i>Bird in a Box</i>, I learned that victory only comes after hard work."http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-bird-in-box.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-1987020525002453162Thu, 08 Feb 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-02-08T07:00:25.629-08:00book reviewnon-fictionwritingBook Review: DIY MFA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QJsqXsz-wqo/WmugbkPam3I/AAAAAAAAIAw/H8yEudOpOD4i8BvNKqjLqxO2lRB-Y6kaQCLcBGAs/s1600/diymfa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QJsqXsz-wqo/WmugbkPam3I/AAAAAAAAIAw/H8yEudOpOD4i8BvNKqjLqxO2lRB-Y6kaQCLcBGAs/s200/diymfa.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>I've never really considered going back to school to earn a Masters of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. The time. The expense. The distance. It all conspires against me. Yet, I truly do desire to learn more about the craft of writing and wish to improve whatever skills I have to this point. Thankfully, there are always books available to condense a subject down to manageable parts. Think of this book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/DIY-MFA-Write-Purpose-Community/dp/1599639343">DIY MFA</a></i>, as the equivalent to a MFA for Dummies. Gabriela Pereira boils the craft and the accompanying counterparts down to a science.<br /><br />She divides the book into three categories of activity necessary to become proficient at writing to the level of a Masters degree student. First, she teaches you to write with focus. I felt a bit distressed reading this section, because once again I wondered whether I should put more effort into planning and plotting. I'd say that's just not my style, but that feels like a cop-out. I certainly could make note cards planning each scene of my novel. I could draw up an outline. But, I will admit, I tend to work better when I simply begin with an idea, a character, a title, and just jump in with both feet to begin writing. Still, the writing lessons in this book are quite helpful. They focus on all the standard writing subjects: characters, plot, point-of-view, setting, and dialogue.<br /><br />In the second section, Pereira urges writers to "read with purpose." I'm quite sure I already take this approach. I believe firmly that if you wish to write, you should immerse yourself in good reading. Yet, the level Pereira takes this to goes well beyond my habit of reading with a dissecting eye. She encourages writers to take on particular topics, genres, and authors for deeper study and to write up the results of what you learn. While my blog book reviews often highlight skills I admire in other writers, I haven't been driven to take apart passages and finely dissect them to discover how the author achieved success. This is something I should do more of, I'm sure.<br /><br />The final section focuses on building community. I know that I would benefit from taking much of the lessons in this section to heart. I need to work harder at building community, identifying and finding readers, and creating a platform or a brand for my writing. I found lots of helpful advice in this section.<br /><br />All in all, I benefited from this writing text. Although it cannot come close to the full experience of pursuing a Masters in Fine Arts at a school, the book does cover the basics you might find in a creative writing degree. It was easy to digest and full of inspiring information. I will be interested to see how this text compares to <i>The Portable MFA in Creative Writing</i> (the other MFA text I placed on my goal list in a previous post). Alas, reading is the easy part. The real challenge comes in putting the lessons to work and actually putting the pen to paper.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-diy-mfa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-7932142430362695328Mon, 05 Feb 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-02-05T07:00:00.290-08:00book reviewfantasyfictionhistorical fictionmiddle gradetweenBook Review: I, Coriander<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bVv2psHiOrM/Wmt1RscZrgI/AAAAAAAAIAg/wUaf7Y__M9QZlv245jO2g-bYU_6X-NfFwCLcBGAs/s1600/i%252Ccoriander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bVv2psHiOrM/Wmt1RscZrgI/AAAAAAAAIAg/wUaf7Y__M9QZlv245jO2g-bYU_6X-NfFwCLcBGAs/s200/i%252Ccoriander.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Several things attracted me to this audio selection, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/I-Coriander-Sally-Gardner/dp/1842555049">I Coriander</a></i>, by Sally Gardner. First off, the cover art is gorgeous. Second, it promises an interview with the author at the end (I'm always a sucker for such things because I love to hear more about the process of writing from authors). As a tween read, I was certain it would be a clean read. Finally, I saw that it is read by Juliet Stevenson (you might know her from a few of her films <i>Truly, Madly, Deeply</i>, <i>Bend It Like Beckham</i>, or <i>Mona Lisa Smile</i>). Her narration is delightful.<br /><br />Coriander Hobie sets out to tell her tale by the light of seven candles. Each candle's length provides a portion of her story. She tells of life with her mother and father, silver shoes that seemed to be made just for her, a stuffed alligator kept in her father's study, and a strange, enticing land full of magic and fairies. The fairy tale she shares is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats waiting to know what comes next.<br /><br />The novel is set in London during the 17th century in a period of political unrest, but it bridges a gap between the real world and a more magical world of fairies. Although, I'm not generally drawn to fairy tales, this one was well-done. I loved the main character, Coriander. She has pluck and spunk and deals with the many unpleasantries that come her way.<br /><br />I should note, however, that Christian parents might wish to listen to this tale alongside their offspring and use it as a discussion tool. The author paints religious people in a very bad light. The Puritan step-mother and her minister friend are quite despicable and evil, all while touting that they are serving God. While I don't dispute that Puritans often were legalistic and fanatical, a child listening to the story might get the impression that belief in God is obviously a bad thing and will lead to the abusive behaviors the Puritan characters demonstrate. I did enjoy the story and believe it is worth exploring, with some caution.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-i-coriander.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-4893149381938940243Fri, 02 Feb 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-02-02T07:00:05.683-08:00abandoned booksbook reviewclean readEnglandfictionBook Review: Rise & Shine, Benedict Stone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kGiw8SMi5bI/WmTr14-9T_I/AAAAAAAAIAQ/HQor97nuvOM1TFWqe-CkfifHLTjZNgpsgCLcBGAs/s1600/riseshine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kGiw8SMi5bI/WmTr14-9T_I/AAAAAAAAIAQ/HQor97nuvOM1TFWqe-CkfifHLTjZNgpsgCLcBGAs/s200/riseshine.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>When I think of infertility, I tend to think of the women who experience that trial. I don't often put myself in the shoes of a man who desperately wants to have a family including children. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shine-Benedict-Stone-Phaedra-Patrick/dp/0778330893/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=">This book</a> helped to remedy that as I came to greatly care for the main character and to feel his painful longing.<br /><br />Benedict Stone's wife has left him. It seems all he can talk about anymore is his desire to fill their happy home with the pitter patter of little feet and the joyful squeals of small children. Sadly, it isn't the first time Benedict's been left behind. His parents left him behind to care for his younger brother when they died in a tsunami. His brother left him behind when he moved away to the United States and made it clear that he wanted no further communication between the two.<br /><br />Then one day, his sixteen-year-old niece Gemma shows up on his doorstep begging for a place to stay for a while. Gemma brings her own baggage and tales of a mother who left her. Yet, she also brings the opportunity for second chances. She is determined to help Benedict mend the rifts in his life and regain his relationships with his wife and his brother.<br /><br />Phaedra Patrick impressed me with her debut novel, <i><a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-curious-charms-of-arthur.html">The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper</a></i>, back in 2016. In that novel, the reader follows the main character on a quest to unravel his deceased wife's previous life by following a trail of several charms on a discovered bracelet. Each charm holds special meaning and unlocks a part of the story. In a similar way, as Benedict Stone unearths the legends behind gemstones, a variety of smaller stories, intersecting individuals, and life lessons unfold.<br /><br />It was a sweet and tender read. I liked the image of the gemstones in the family tree. I loved the vulnerability of the main characters. The only thing I would change would be the character names, which seemed a bit much. Gemma Stone - really? Thankfully, it was a very engrossing read and kept me occupied during the endless waiting game associated with my husband's hernia surgery. I even found myself sharing tidbits of the story with him. I'll look forward to more from this author.<br /><br />======<br />The book I checked out from the library had a different cover from the one above, but I like this cover better than the library's one (an image of a man sitting in a weeping willow tree). Plus, this cover is vaguely reminiscent of another book I attempted recently, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M5I2JP9/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1">The Story of Arthur Truluv</a></i>. Despite that story's great start (an older widow who encounters a teen girl in a graveyard and strikes up a friendship), I decided to abort the read due to content that made me uncomfortable.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-rise-shine-benedict-stone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-5602764260886748154Tue, 30 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-02-09T10:39:18.078-08:00book reviewfictionshort storiesBook Review: Tell Tale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_ggu-NK7SU/WmHzITfI5YI/AAAAAAAAIAA/A-LtERxHCJMTErM-r6hlX2W61M7fr18DQCLcBGAs/s1600/telltale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_ggu-NK7SU/WmHzITfI5YI/AAAAAAAAIAA/A-LtERxHCJMTErM-r6hlX2W61M7fr18DQCLcBGAs/s200/telltale.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>I've long admired Jeffrey Archer's ability to craft a well-written short story (for novels, I've only read his Clifton Chronicles series, but highly recommend that series, as well). He is most skilled at creating surprise endings (thus the title of his 1988 short story collection, <i>A Twist in the Tale</i>). In <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tell-Tale-Stories-Jeffrey-Archer/dp/1250199581/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=">this new collection of short stories</a> (his seventh set to date, published in October of 2017), two of the fourteen stories are written with precisely 100 words. This, again, proves he is a master at the craft. As <i>Booklist</i> proclaims, "All of the stories spotlight the author's gifts for creating fully fleshed characters and absorbing plots in lean, efficient prose. All are written with Archer's keen eye for time and place, and his keen ear for dialogue." Although I listened to this collection in audio form, I would love to check out the book so I could study the execution of his stories in more detail.<br /><br />The stories, drawn from real-life encounters along with imagination, are sure to delight anyone interested in a quick, engrossing read. I did see the ending coming in "Who Killed the Mayor?" But several of the others took me by surprise ("A Road to Damascus" - about a schoolboy encountering fall-out from the Holocaust, and "A Wasted Hour" - about a young woman who thumbs a memorable ride, available for free on Kindle <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wasted-Hour-Specially-Selected-Story-ebook/dp/B074SZ7YD5">here</a>). Archer's style and skill shine through and I will continue to look to him for guidance in the art of storytelling.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-tell-tale.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-1235834001029544787Sat, 27 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-01-27T07:00:12.107-08:00book reviewmemoirwritingBook Review: Old Friend from Far Away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-geJXJIN1toc/WloxW3nxT0I/AAAAAAAAH_g/xHsuMdattOQecRtyHVnYSIe35mkKW_JBgCLcBGAs/s1600/oldfriend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="181" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-geJXJIN1toc/WloxW3nxT0I/AAAAAAAAH_g/xHsuMdattOQecRtyHVnYSIe35mkKW_JBgCLcBGAs/s200/oldfriend.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><br />Natalie Goldberg is one of the greats for providing writing inspiration. This particular book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00133YTMI/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1">Old Friend from Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir</a></i>, will benefit writers who are interested in working on a memoir and writers who simply wish for more ideas. I selected it because of my recent attempt at travel memoir. I don't believe it will help me in my revision process, but it provided so many prompts that I would actually consider purchasing this one for myself.<br /><br />I'll share here a dozen of my favorite prompts (she provides several paragraphs of explanation, then the prompt, then the words "Go. Ten minutes."):<br /><br /><br /><ul><li>"Go for the jugular, for what makes you nervous... Make a list of all the things you should not write about... What you fear, if you turn toward it, will give your writing teeth."</li><li>"Tell me about how a relationship ended."</li><li>"Write a full ten minutes about one time you didn't fit in."</li><li>"What tortures you and awakens you at night?"</li><li>"Tell me in ten minutes why nothing worked, why you felt stuck where you were."</li><li>"Tell me what your biggest mistake has been."</li><li>"Tell me what stifles you."</li><li>"Begin a ten-minute writing with <i>No Thank You</i>."</li><li>"What have you waited a long time for?"</li><li>"What have you held onto too long?"</li><li>"Write a last letter to someone."</li><li>"What did you know that you didn't want to know."</li></ul><div>She provides several hundred similar thought-provoking topics to explore. Indeed, you could take one prompt a day and not run out for a year. One of my goals for 2018 is to do two pages of free-association writing every morning. Goldberg's prompts will certainly help if I ever run out of ideas to cover.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also appreciated the section at the end of the book titled "Guidelines and Suggestions for Writing Memoir." This list summarizes some of the key points made throughout the book (even providing page references so the reader can go back to review a principle). The book is simply a Pandora's box full of ideas and prompts. Once you tackle one, it will be down on the page and you will not be able to stuff it back inside again - certainly a grand goal for any writer.</div>http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-old-friend-from-far-away.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-4942817991861639643Wed, 24 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-01-24T07:00:53.477-08:00book reviewchildren'sclean readfavoritesfictionhistorical fictionKate DiCamillonostalgiaBook Review: Little House in the Big Woods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VBIgnxLV1ng/WldnRxTeWNI/AAAAAAAAH-0/oi8D3j_3yagH7U1NFv6ITLg-vO3owi50wCLcBGAs/s1600/littlehouseaudio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VBIgnxLV1ng/WldnRxTeWNI/AAAAAAAAH-0/oi8D3j_3yagH7U1NFv6ITLg-vO3owi50wCLcBGAs/s1600/littlehouseaudio.jpg" /></a></div><br />After reading <a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-prairie-fires.html">a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder</a> recently, I decided to revisit the <i>Little House on the Prairie</i> books. My library has the set in audio form. What better way to pass the time while walking on my treadmill? Although, I think I do miss reading the books in book form because I remember the beautiful illustrations. This was easily remedied. I headed downstairs (for some reason I do not keep them with the other children's books on my bookshelves upstairs - do I doubt my boys would be interested in the story of a girl on the prairie?) and pulled out the first volume, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-House-Big-Woods-Book/dp/B01N7U27S4/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=">Little House in the Big Woods</a></i>. The familiar illustrations by Garth Williams brought a smile to my face. I also was tickled by the inscription on the inside cover in my own childish hand declaring "Wendy Gorton finished this book on November 23rd, 1972." I was seven. The book shows how dearly loved it was - the back cover was torn and mended twice. Oh, how I wish I had brought these books out when my younger boys were six and eight. That would have been the perfect time, I think.<br /><br />The narrator also made me grin as I recognized the voice from the audio version of Kate DiCamillo's <i>Because of Winn-Dixie</i> (I well remember listening with Bryce to that tender tale on our drive to camp one summer). Cherry Jones does an excellent job of voicing the child-like wonder of Laura as she experiences life in the big woods with winter, snow, Christmas, bears, spring, summer, and harvest. Children will listen attentively to these simple tales of how straw hats were made, meat was preserved, and dangers were averted. I had forgotten the little story about Laura's cousin "crying wolf" and then seriously attempting to call his and Laura's Pa when he stepped on a yellow jacket nest. Although I have a few other audio books in the line-up (especially excited to find the most recent set of Jeffrey Archer short stories on the recent acquisitions shelf at my library), I will probably continue listening to this series this year.<br /><br />(For a sample of the audio version with the voice of Cherry Jones, follow the book link above and click on the audible sample button. She is an excellent Recorded Books narrator.)http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-little-house-in-big-woods.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-1021366513944096783Sat, 20 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-01-21T11:50:27.094-08:00CBLIfaithnothing wastedredemptionresolutionswritingyearly focus wordResolution and Redemption<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_q88m0VOAQ/WmHm_lwNj6I/AAAAAAAAH_w/yyHKIYE6iPYU5ZgvUDeOlp8OOuckzRxhgCLcBGAs/s1600/nothingwasted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2_q88m0VOAQ/WmHm_lwNj6I/AAAAAAAAH_w/yyHKIYE6iPYU5ZgvUDeOlp8OOuckzRxhgCLcBGAs/s400/nothingwasted.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I don't often make resolutions, mostly because I don't often keep resolutions. Thus, it seems rather pointless to set out with an intention if you know your abysmal track record for making intentions reality. But, this year I've jumped on the band wagon again, primarily because my writer's group set about to articulate goals for this year. I think I also took that plunge because of the life lessons learned from my recent trip. I'm still in that mode of approaching hard things because I know they will reap growth and even when change and challenge seem daunting, I don't want to shrink back out of fear (as I almost did with my solo European trip this past November).<br /><br />I spent several weeks agonizing over what my writing goals for 2018 should be. I was so torn between making them reasonable and shooting for the moon that I wrote down two separate lists. I figure I can tackle each list in turn. If I achieve the simpler goals from the first list, I can push on into the more intense goals.<br /><br />The first year I attempted the Nanowrimo goal of writing 50,000 words within the space of a month, I had a blogging friend, Cardiogirl, who participated as well. I should credit much of my success to her. I had access, through <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">the Nanowrimo website</a>, to follow her stats and will admit that when she pressed into the challenge and made a giant spurt of writing, it inspired me to keep up and make my own strides. I might not have reached my end goal without her traversing beside me, helping to set my pace and encouraging me to keep running when I wanted to walk.<br /><br />This year, my writing group will be a sort of accountability partner for me. I dutifully read aloud my goals (although I hope I didn't discourage a few of the others who hadn't even known that goals were on the agenda and were, thus, making their goals off-the-cuff). By posting them here, I figure I have even more accountability because, come December, I will have to answer to myself on this forum for what I have invested and pursued.<br /><br />Conservative goals:<br /><br /><ol><li>Attend some sort of conference/writing workshop and meet with editors/agents</li><li>Send out at least ten queries</li><li>Revise and polish my travel memoir (the most recent November project)</li><li>Do daily morning writing of 2 pages free-association writing</li><li>Read <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Portable-MFA-Creative-Writing/dp/B01L97J8UA">The Portable MFA in Creative Writing</a></i> and at least three other writing books</li></ol><div>Lofty goals:</div><div><br /></div><div><ol><li>Send twenty queries</li><li>Revise and polish travel memoir and pitch it to five agents</li><li>Read 5 additional writing books</li><li>Get something published in 2018, even if it is just a devotional/essay in a magazine</li><li>Secure an agent before the end of 12/18</li></ol><div>Another thing I've watched from the sidelines is the practice of selecting one word to focus on for the year. I've never before joined in all the reindeer games, but this year I feel strongly prompted internally to select the phrase "Nothing Wasted." (My blogging friend, Catherine, of A Spirited Mind, often selects phrases instead of words and always articulates her motivation so well, as evidenced in <a href="http://aspiritedmind.com/2018/01/2018-word-of-the-year-elegance/">this post</a> about her current word-of-the-year, along with some previous words/phrases she selected.)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The phrase "nothing wasted" comes from a song we sing at our annual Salvation Army Bible camp, CBLI. Written by Eric Himes (son of Bill Himes, who penned <a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2011/06/perfect-gift-for-passionate-writer.html">another beautiful song I've claimed in a previous blog post</a>) together with Phil Laeger, it speaks of a desire for God to use everything within our lives for His purposes and to redeem every tiny aspect. I've long been a fan of redemption stories (even attempted to write one myself a few years back) and truly want my life to be a clear redemption story to others who see it/read it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are to words to the song:</div><div><br /></div><div>"Let nothing be wasted,</div><div>Not a pain nor a tear,</div><div>Not a wound of my heart,</div><div>Every lingering fear.</div><div>Shape the doubts of my soul</div><div>Into prayers you will hear,<br />Oh Lord, let nothing,<br />nothing be wasted.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let nothing be wasted,</div><div>Not a burden within,</div><div>When I face temptation,</div><div>Every fight against sin.</div><div>Lord, I come to you now,</div><div>For the freedom you give,<br />Oh Lord, let nothing,<br />nothing be wasted.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are pressed but not crushed,</div><div>Persecuted, not abandoned.</div><div>Struck down but not destroyed.</div><div>Oh my soul, take heart</div><div>In the trial, in the sorrow</div><div>For He has overcome the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let nothing be wasted,</div><div>The space in between</div><div>The waiting and answers</div><div>For a vision not seen.</div><div>Let my restless heart know</div><div>Your unburdening peace,<br />Oh Lord, let nothing,<br />nothing be wasted.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can go to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgGUcNM7cZg">this You Tube link</a> to hear Eric's group, The Singing Company, sing it (due to be released on an album in March).</div><div><br /></div><div>It sounds like a dangerous phrase to build my year on. If I focus on "Nothing Wasted," what further trials will God bring to suck the marrow from? Yet, it continues to linger on the periphery of my vision, persistently calling to me as something I should claim. Certainly, in my writing life, I want nothing wasted. All the previous difficulties and trials He has brought me through have been for a purpose and even if they only serve to refine me to be more like Christ, that will be enough, but I long for them to go even further and flesh out into productive, meaningful writing to share with someone else loaded down with burdens.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not begging to be pressed, persecuted, or struck down. I don't relish the idea of further trials or sorrows, but I know that hard place between the waiting and the answers and I am committed to leaving every tear and pain in the Lord's hands to be used for His glory and my eventual good (My Bible study last week focused on Romans 8:28-39&nbsp; - verse 28 says: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.") In my writing and in my life, I want to see His redemption. I claim His promise, this year, that nothing will be wasted.</div><div><br /></div>http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/resolution-and-redemption.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-6933192628332979271Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-01-18T07:00:25.818-08:00book reviewdepressionfaithnon-fictionBook Review: In the Middle of the Mess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x4p3d6kKFqs/WlPUl9ru3YI/AAAAAAAAH94/_sP1vIHmxZMBxEmzEZeO_EBSRdvoACOrACLcBGAs/s1600/inmiddleofmess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x4p3d6kKFqs/WlPUl9ru3YI/AAAAAAAAH94/_sP1vIHmxZMBxEmzEZeO_EBSRdvoACOrACLcBGAs/s200/inmiddleofmess.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Christian singer Sheila Walsh has openly and honestly shared about her battle with depression before. In this book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XFRGKZF/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1">In the Middle of the Mess: Strength for This Beautiful, Broken Life</a></i>, she offers hope and healing to readers who struggle with suicidal thoughts. She begins by sharing a letter addressed to her father, a man who took his life when Sheila was only five years old. In her innocence, she carried the weight of guilt for far too long, believing she was responsible for her father's death, and she eventually had a nervous breakdown. Over time, she has learned the power of confession and intense authenticity before God and encourages readers to spend time in confessional prayer on a daily basis.<br /><br />At one point, in a discussion about confession and salvation, she quotes Nicky Gumbel:<br /><br />"'Salvation' ... is a huge and comprehensive word. It means 'freedom' ... There are three tenses of salvation: we have been set free from the penalty of sin, we are being set free from the power of sin, and we will be set free from the presence of sin."<br /><br />I think that was my favorite quote in the book. I love the alliteration and parallel structure of the quote almost as much as I love the depth of meaning. While the book didn't offer up any earth-shattering new insights into God's power to defeat the pull of depression, it was an easy, helpful read. I admire her quest for authentic Christianity. Too often people assume that believers have some magic ticket that takes them out of their brokenness. Walsh urges readers to bring their brokenness to God and share honestly with God and others in the midst of the pain and difficulties of life. I ended the book feeling an overwhelming sense of "Me, too!"http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-in-middle-of-mess.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-4209201050958867930Mon, 15 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-01-15T07:00:39.114-08:00book reviewnon-fictionBook Review: Prairie Fires<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hj-kIMOWNlM/WkugBFINoVI/AAAAAAAAH88/ndb-MrKQvtEHYnjjbUW-q7mVazgUv6oJQCLcBGAs/s1600/prairiefires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hj-kIMOWNlM/WkugBFINoVI/AAAAAAAAH88/ndb-MrKQvtEHYnjjbUW-q7mVazgUv6oJQCLcBGAs/s200/prairiefires.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>It has been years since I read the <i>Little House on the Prairie</i> book series. I loved them as a girl and probably read them through two or three times, at least. My mother gave me our set of books when I left home. I was aware of the friction between fictional and real elements to the story and knew they were pitched as a set of novels, but had never really explored a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder before. What an interesting life and story she lived. If parts of what she shared with the world were fictional, I'm not offended. I think the heart of her story communicates the reality of what she experienced.<br /><br />For me, the most interesting and frustrating bits of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Fires-American-Dreams-Ingalls/dp/1627792767">this biography</a> by Caroline Fraser centered on Laura's daughter, Rose. What an absurd and unscrupulous woman! Moreover, far too much time was devoted to Rose instead of Laura. Indeed, the relationship between Laura and Rose was intensely complicated and fraught with a give and pull of support and distance. However, I do think that Rose began life at a disadvantage. Even if she wasn't truly responsible for the fire that took her parents home when she was three, she believed herself responsible and that burden of guilt must have trailed her throughout her life (as evidenced in her constant need to build and establish new homes for herself and others). It was hard to follow the back and forth nature of their support of one another. Rose encouraged and edited Laura's writing, yet often inserted herself into the narrative process far more than she should have. Moreover, she had quite a tendency to overembellish the truth (in the celebrity biographies she wrote and in the autobiographical fiction she and her mother presented to the world). She sent money home to help support her parents, yet was often deeply in debt.<br /><br />I appreciated how the author placed Laura and Rose in the context of history (when the Peshtigo and Hinckley fires were mentioned, I remembered one of my favorite reads in 2013, <i><a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2013/10/book-review-under-flaming-sky.html">Under a Flaming Sky</a></i>, by Daniel James Brown). It did seem at times as if the author had her own political agenda in the way she presented the history. Still, even though this book was lengthy, I was thoroughly pulled into the story of their lives. Indeed, I put this book down wanting to pick up Laura Ingalls Wilder's children's series all over again. Although I have quite a few other titles in the wings waiting to be read, I may try to fit the series in anyway.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-prairie-fires.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-2975955023662053788Fri, 12 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-01-12T07:00:20.358-08:00blogospherenostalgiawritingMy Ten-Year Blogiversary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dotNtA0FqdY/Wld-9shWvTI/AAAAAAAAH_Q/s3mQUkW_mRAvkujxoL-9yemJem2G-gZegCLcBGAs/s1600/journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dotNtA0FqdY/Wld-9shWvTI/AAAAAAAAH_Q/s3mQUkW_mRAvkujxoL-9yemJem2G-gZegCLcBGAs/s200/journal.jpg" width="112" /></a></div>Hard to believe it was ten years ago today that I began my blogging journey! I remember lying in bed trying to think up a suitable name for my blog. Focusing on what I wished to blog about - primarily two things, my boys and the books I read - I settled on the name "Of Books and Boys" and haven't regretted the choice or looked back with a moment of regret. Indeed, at my writer's group this past month, I was asked for the name of my blog and I explained that I should perhaps change the name now since I seldom write about my boys any more (they have grown to an age where they no longer provide me with hilarious anecdotes to share and would probably be mortified if I did share anecdotes about them). Still, I will keep the name with its Steinbeck associations and its clear summary of the focus of my life.<br /><br />I went back to view my very first post, a brief, barely-edited description of my middle son's great love of Bath and Body Works soap - <a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2008/01/of-boys-and-soap.html">"Of Boys and Soap."</a> I had several thoughts as I read the initial blog posts from January of 2008. At the outset of my blogging, my husband insisted that I blog anonymously, even to the point of wanting me to label my sons, ES (eldest son), MS (middle son) and YS (youngest son). Thankfully, over time, he relented and I now use their names freely. I also laughed because I just received another shipment of Bath and Body Works soaps, including Warm Sugar Vanilla. My younger boys continue to be big fans and I do relent and spend money on their soaps when I can find them at sale prices of $3.50 or less. In an early book review post, I mentioned reading the first <i>Little House</i> book to the younger boys in January of 2008. They were 3 and 1! But the biggest observation I can make is that I have grown so much as a writer through this simple process of blogging.<br /><br />When I first began blogging, I did so with abandon. I wrote 28 blog posts in the month of February 2008 and 250 in the first year. I cannot imagine keeping up that pace now, since I seldom have anecdotes to share and would never have enough time to read 250 books in a year. Still, knowing how much my writing has improved encourages me to continue this little exercise, even in moments when I think to myself, "who really cares about what you are reading or your opinions on what you are reading?" Truly, even if nobody read my blog posts, I would continue to write them because I gain so much from the exercise in articulating my thoughts and opinions. I have met other bloggers through the process. I have honed the skill of summarizing a book in a sentence or paragraph (the most crucial part of a query letter to agents/editors). I have a tangible in-depth analysis of my reading habits, as well as documented memories of my times with my boys. The posts have served as a memory capsule for all those moments, big and small, in a decade of raising sons. Their worth cannot be measured.<br /><br />So, as I look back over a decade of blogging (and review a few of the 1525 posts I have written up to this point), I pledge to continue this writing endeavor. A few of my favorite general posts and book review posts are listed at the bottom of my blog. Who knows, maybe I will spend even more time reviewing previous posts and come up with a list of favorites to have bound in book-form.<br /><br />May the next ten years provide even more blogging fodder and greater improvements in my writing skills. Every word brings me closer to the goal of publication (indeed, my blogging efforts must have made some dent in what Malcolm Gladwell calls the "ten-thousand hour rule," the idea that it takes ten thousand hours of deliberate practice to achieve success in any field). But, even if I never reach that elusive goal, I will look back on my blogging efforts with satisfaction. There is a joy in writing for writing's sake alone just as there is joy in living, even if one doesn't accomplish anything of note.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"We write to taste life twice - in the moment and in retrospect." - Anais Nin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others:</div><div style="text-align: center;">read a lot and write a lot." - Stephen King</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"The only writer to whom you should compare yourself</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;is the writer you were yesterday." - David Schlosser</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"You fail only if you stop writing." - Ray Bradbury</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/my-ten-year-blogiversary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-2248925367361548355Tue, 09 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-01-09T07:00:08.311-08:00book reviewclean readEnglandfictionmiddle gradetweenBook Review: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-70kt_0L-lRY/Wko4kEO3SiI/AAAAAAAAH8s/t2fGUO89vuESaVZZjy-Tpmh0hr3AnrVlwCLcBGAs/s1600/incorrigiblechildren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="200" height="187" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-70kt_0L-lRY/Wko4kEO3SiI/AAAAAAAAH8s/t2fGUO89vuESaVZZjy-Tpmh0hr3AnrVlwCLcBGAs/s200/incorrigiblechildren.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>When I searched for audio Christmas books at my library's website, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Incorrigible-Children-Ashton-Place-Mysterious/dp/0061791105">The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place</a></i> came up and I had heard good things about it from both Sheila (<a href="http://deliberatereader.com/books-read-october-2017/">The Deliberate Reader</a> blog) and Catherine (<a href="http://aspiritedmind.com/2017/09/wanderlust-read-listen-cook-eat/">A Spirited Mind</a> blog). It had the added bonus of being short, at only 5 discs long, and thus easy to digest in only five or six treadmill sessions. I will say that my husband winced every time he came into the room because one of the voices the narrator used for the lady of Ashton Place was extremely high-pitched, whiny, and grating. Of course, this would probably go unnoticed by young children (the target audience is readers between the ages of 8 and 12).<br /><br />Miss Penelope Lumley is on her way to her new governess job, unaware that she will be asked to rear children who were quite literally raised by wolves. Penelope has no idea where her own parents are (she, herself, was reared at the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, when her parents left for parts unknown), so she is a perfect fit for the job, even at only fifteen years old. She does her best to teach them to speak, to conjugate Latin verbs, and to memorize poetry. Will her efforts to civilize the children be enough when the lady of the house decides to show them off to guests at her Christmas party? How did a stray squirrel get into the house during the festivities and who sent the letter requesting the theatre troupe to present plays about wolves?<br /><br />I will happily seek out further books in the series, but may look for the hard-cover book instead of the audio, to avoid the ear-splitting narration. I don't think it would appeal to my sons: however, for children interested in England or governess tales, this would be a perfect fit. The witty words of wisdom sprinkled throughout provide an added bonus.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/book-review-incorrigible-children-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-3822026932535111111Sat, 06 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-01-06T07:00:13.042-08:00ChristmasEnglandfavoritesBig Hit Gifts of Christmas 2017I hit pay dirt this Christmas! I was so very thrilled with the gifts I received.<br /><br />When I saw this horn decoration at a local flea market, I had to mention it to my husband that evening. It looks remarkably like <a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-new-horn.html">an alto horn</a> (the horn I play when I play in Salvation Army bands):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJsUf5L9F94/Wk-Cj9azT7I/AAAAAAAAH9M/ZDbH8eHUQg4i2IalXgCqOzOHHJEwqxxcQCLcBGAs/s1600/xmasgifts5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJsUf5L9F94/Wk-Cj9azT7I/AAAAAAAAH9M/ZDbH8eHUQg4i2IalXgCqOzOHHJEwqxxcQCLcBGAs/s320/xmasgifts5.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />I received a few other decorations, as well:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qc3pWYPbW0Q/Wk-C2I4BmYI/AAAAAAAAH9Q/sMKhS3cEb687un39DX6RBnbrb81b8YJNQCLcBGAs/s1600/xmasgifts4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qc3pWYPbW0Q/Wk-C2I4BmYI/AAAAAAAAH9Q/sMKhS3cEb687un39DX6RBnbrb81b8YJNQCLcBGAs/s320/xmasgifts4.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cspnh233VUE/Wk-C6oO6DqI/AAAAAAAAH9U/lkTxRFUD1PclZpldxZ7lRtH5kP_Y2UgywCLcBGAs/s1600/xmasgifts2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cspnh233VUE/Wk-C6oO6DqI/AAAAAAAAH9U/lkTxRFUD1PclZpldxZ7lRtH5kP_Y2UgywCLcBGAs/s320/xmasgifts2.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />I will hang the London tea towel on my kitchen wall. I used to have four or five British tea towels on the walls of our kitchen when we lived in DeKalb, but never dug them out of storage here (besides I really only have enough wall space to hang one near the kitchen).<br /><br />I can't wait to play this word game with the younger boys (we've been playing rounds of Balderdash after finding an inexpensive set of game cards at the thrift store for only $1.50). Thankfully, they both love words and word games.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpE5T2slp2k/Wk-DqsAI3eI/AAAAAAAAH9k/cTdF6YP2UIwoNrxWZ3YC7sVegy7d7oh1QCLcBGAs/s1600/xmasgifts3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpE5T2slp2k/Wk-DqsAI3eI/AAAAAAAAH9k/cTdF6YP2UIwoNrxWZ3YC7sVegy7d7oh1QCLcBGAs/s320/xmasgifts3.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />My absolute favorite gift was one I didn't even request. Bryce reflected on my interests and gave me these beautiful book ends:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-Aihu61xIo/Wk-ECM6GZSI/AAAAAAAAH9o/GlW7arepCTw6yii4cEsBzlvpZzmelsNaQCLcBGAs/s1600/xmasgifts1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-Aihu61xIo/Wk-ECM6GZSI/AAAAAAAAH9o/GlW7arepCTw6yii4cEsBzlvpZzmelsNaQCLcBGAs/s320/xmasgifts1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I think I will display them on the fireplace mantel and keep my current reads there (these are the six books I am attempting to tackle this month).http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/big-hit-gifts-of-christmas-2017.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-6535499958470859003Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +00002018-01-03T07:00:42.396-08:00book reviewfavoriteshighly recommendreadingTop Ten Reads from 2017If I could go back and only read ten books this past year, these would be the ten I would choose:<br /><br />Best Adult Fiction:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FHEMORJdkJA/WkYv1d3iMJI/AAAAAAAAH7g/T1wRSR3ajJIr0PE4FiU0FRhGvj1xM_peQCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FHEMORJdkJA/WkYv1d3iMJI/AAAAAAAAH7g/T1wRSR3ajJIr0PE4FiU0FRhGvj1xM_peQCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-man-called-ove-highly.html">A Man Called Ove</a></i> by Fredrik Backman</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dCxEolmqLuI/WkYv3zTeBrI/AAAAAAAAH7o/3j7I_DUBn3kPcUIEFSGR-r-stX99AI0jwCEwYBhgL/s1600/2017bestbooks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="181" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dCxEolmqLuI/WkYv3zTeBrI/AAAAAAAAH7o/3j7I_DUBn3kPcUIEFSGR-r-stX99AI0jwCEwYBhgL/s1600/2017bestbooks2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-secret-life-of-bees-highly.html">The Secret Life of Bees</a></i> by Sue Monk Kidd</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_IAYfQoGTu0/WkYxCCcNS8I/AAAAAAAAH78/T5FdH0WInSsnaMYYCwmk5tqnXW-eISGiwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_IAYfQoGTu0/WkYxCCcNS8I/AAAAAAAAH78/T5FdH0WInSsnaMYYCwmk5tqnXW-eISGiwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-this-was-man-highly.html">This Was a Man</a></i> by Jeffrey Archer</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xKmYn9VAQQM/WkYxJKQGDhI/AAAAAAAAH8A/2h3UaA84bJgl_47SU8SJIsHIcTMIOeW5QCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="183" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xKmYn9VAQQM/WkYxJKQGDhI/AAAAAAAAH8A/2h3UaA84bJgl_47SU8SJIsHIcTMIOeW5QCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks4.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-black-rabbit-hall-highly.html">Black Rabbit Hall</a></i> by Eve Chase</div><br />Best Christian Non-fiction:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EP4dDGSv1H0/WkYxSKOpsgI/AAAAAAAAH8E/FdKQ8DriRooH8RU9yCR9c2M_MzWxQAlEwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EP4dDGSv1H0/WkYxSKOpsgI/AAAAAAAAH8E/FdKQ8DriRooH8RU9yCR9c2M_MzWxQAlEwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks9.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/06/book-review-chase-lion-highly-recommend.html">Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You, It's Too Small</a></i> by Mark Batterson</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jAv3NAbTO5g/WkYxbng8_9I/AAAAAAAAH8I/e7LSx6HnOtY0-Z_xFnysWXtT3VOrFjgmwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jAv3NAbTO5g/WkYxbng8_9I/AAAAAAAAH8I/e7LSx6HnOtY0-Z_xFnysWXtT3VOrFjgmwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks10.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-falling-free.html">Falling Free: Rescued from the Life I Always Wanted</a></i> by Shannan Martin</div><br />Best YA fiction:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jbav8gf-gwA/WkYxj8nqZoI/AAAAAAAAH8Q/Hlc-j7XSwCUWv6h6l5ABrLjXkFfijJHXwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="181" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jbav8gf-gwA/WkYxj8nqZoI/AAAAAAAAH8Q/Hlc-j7XSwCUWv6h6l5ABrLjXkFfijJHXwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-ready-player-one-highly.html">Ready Player One</a></i> by Ernest Cline</div><br />Best MG fiction:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lZWQK_eDkWI/WkYxsjS3qGI/AAAAAAAAH8U/MFCK4X8ZU_QetUHHK9kQ__OvsY9lMJKTQCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="190" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lZWQK_eDkWI/WkYxsjS3qGI/AAAAAAAAH8U/MFCK4X8ZU_QetUHHK9kQ__OvsY9lMJKTQCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-thing-about-jellyfish.html">The Thing About Jellyfish</a></i> by Ali Benjamin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LJz_IDQbIyI/WkYx0UufjaI/AAAAAAAAH8Y/8HBEJQ0P1c0zLxJPaI2ZeVT9VusbtfAxwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="184" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LJz_IDQbIyI/WkYx0UufjaI/AAAAAAAAH8Y/8HBEJQ0P1c0zLxJPaI2ZeVT9VusbtfAxwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks7.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/10/book-review-see-you-in-cosmos-highly.html">See You in the Cosmos</a></i> by Jack Cheng</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fPApLGvLbOo/WkYx7oQRCvI/AAAAAAAAH8c/XaQ9kM-eCFUI8QrD8RceDBCxbKvspVUkgCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="183" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fPApLGvLbOo/WkYx7oQRCvI/AAAAAAAAH8c/XaQ9kM-eCFUI8QrD8RceDBCxbKvspVUkgCLcBGAs/s1600/2017bestbooks8.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-wolf-hollow-highly-recommend.html">Wolf Hollow</a></i> by Lauren Wolk</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2018/01/top-ten-reads-from-2017.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-7150525071195481264Sun, 31 Dec 2017 15:00:00 +00002017-12-31T07:00:20.679-08:00book reviewcancerChristmasclean readfictionBook Review: The Deal of a Lifetime<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHKWaaNHhaE/Wj-SkiybLzI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/cpiJbybsihAwXU3wIBYrmU1OlTuqUkfFQCLcBGAs/s1600/deallifetime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="190" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHKWaaNHhaE/Wj-SkiybLzI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/cpiJbybsihAwXU3wIBYrmU1OlTuqUkfFQCLcBGAs/s200/deallifetime.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>My favorite novel from my 2017 reading was probably Fredrik Backman's <i><a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-man-called-ove-highly.html">A Man Called Ove</a></i>. When my library acquired his Christmas novella, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deal-Lifetime-Fredrik-Backman/dp/150119349X">The Deal of a Lifetime</a></i>, I quickly added my name to the hold list. The timing was perfect! The novel begins with a letter declaring it is Christmas Eve and I read the book on December 23rd in one brief sitting. While I can't say I enjoyed it as much as Ove's tale, it was certainly thought-provoking and well-written.<br /><br />Backman has such a skill for tapping into human emotions and creating relatable characters. The father's letter to his son outlines a deal he has been offered on the night before Christmas. This deal, involving a five-year-old girl fighting cancer, will cause him to re-evaluate his values, his motives, and his legacy. Once again, Backman has taken a character readers might have difficulty liking and used him to communicate what is really important in life. This was a lovely little holiday novella.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-deal-of-lifetime.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-5981548535417932408Fri, 29 Dec 2017 15:00:00 +00002017-12-29T07:00:11.613-08:00book reviewboy behaviorfaithprayerBook Review: The Impossible<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rYSSA_P6Yvo/Wj0Ygfr6P7I/AAAAAAAAH7A/xTHg0u4mCAY890vs54vPxYiHycWsqtecwCLcBGAs/s1600/impossible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rYSSA_P6Yvo/Wj0Ygfr6P7I/AAAAAAAAH7A/xTHg0u4mCAY890vs54vPxYiHycWsqtecwCLcBGAs/s200/impossible.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Boys pull the craziest stunts! I well remember the January day, ten years ago, when <a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2009/01/compared-to-ess-week.html">Bryce and his buddies decided to walk across the icy pond</a> in a friend's neighborhood. Bryce was a daredevil and even his friends tried to reason with him. His friend, Cameron, sat on the bank refusing to join them on the ice, saying "Dude, I'm not stupid!" But Bryce was eager to impress a new friend. Not surprisingly, the ice collapsed under his weight and he found himself in frigid water over his head. Another friend tried to rescue him, but the ice simply broke under him, as well. I thank the Lord that both of them made it safely back to the shoreline and were unharmed by the experience (apart from the inconsequential loss of a cell phone).<br /><br />In <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Impossible-Miraculous-Mothers-Childs-Resurrection/dp/1478976950">The Impossible: The Miraculous Story of a Mother's Faith and Her Child's Resurrection</a></i>, Joyce Smith (with assistance of co-writer Ginger Kolbaba) tells a similar tale. Her 14-year-old son, John, together with some buddies, walked on a frozen lake one January night to take photos of themselves standing on the sheer-glass surface. With the boosted confidence of success, the next morning, with the sun shining down upon them, they decided to attempt it again. This time, the ice gave way and despite efforts to retrieve solid ground on the ice again, John's body succumbed to the icy waters and he was submerged for twenty minutes before a rescue team located his body and pulled him from the water. By the time Joyce arrived at the hospital to see her son, he had been without a pulse for an hour and the doctors were simply waiting for her viewing to declare the time of death. She stood before his body and cried out to God to save her son. Miraculously, his heart began to beat and a semblance of life returned to him. But, he wasn't out of deep water yet. He had plenty of hurdles to overcome (lungs full of dirty water, blood system compromised, unexplained fever, etc.).<br /><br />The story was truly riveting as she recounted the numerous difficulties John faced throughout his ordeal. Time and time again, God's people prayed and miracles occurred. This book is an important testament to the importance of faith and the power of prayer. I fully believe her tale of God's miraculous intervention. The things that happened in John's journey could not be explained scientifically and medical intervention was clearly not cutting it. However, the first 200 pages of the book still left me with a niggle of discomfort.<br /><br />The way events were communicated made it sound as if the mother boldly demanded that God return her son to her and "God answered" her prayer and the prayers of those lifting John before the throne. I guess what rankled was the idea that if things had not gone in their favor, God would have been leaving their prayers unanswered. I kept comparing <a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-miracle-story.html">my own miracle story</a> to this one. When my father was faced with the imminent loss of my life, he recognized his position in relation to God and changed his desperate pleading tone to one of acquiescence to God's will. Even&nbsp; Christ submitted himself to the Father when he prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done." Yet, repeatedly, it is presented as if Joyce Smith's bold determination won God over to do things her way.<br /><br />I agree that we must boldly approach God's throne and make our requests fully believing He is capable of making the impossible possible. I recognize this series of events as a miracle only God could have accomplished. I admire Joyce's tenacity to insist that on-lookers only speak life, when faced with numerous scientific reports declaring her son was destined for a reduced life or death. Indeed, only God was capable of taking a dead boy and allowing him to walk out of that hospital unscathed! I simply wish God's sovereignty had been mentioned more in the earlier parts of the book for readers who may have set the book aside because God's answer to their own prayers didn't look like the miracle they expected or demanded.<br /><br />Finally, on page 207, the issue of God's sovereignty is addressed. The author recounts an incident where a Christian approached her son and asked what made him so special that God answered his prayers, yet left this Christian's prayers "unanswered" in regard to the life of a loved one. In addressing this fellow Christian, the author argues she had prayed personally for a miracle in the life of a boy with leukemia. Her prayers, in her words, went "unanswered." She writes, "I don't know why God decided to answer my prayers for John when He didn't answer my prayers for Mitchell. I can't explain that. I'm not God. The only thing I know is that He is sovereign." My hesitations lifted somewhat when the author proclaimed, "I praised God when He saved John because I knew God was good and faithful and loving and true. But had He not saved John, God&nbsp; would still be just as good and faithful and loving and true."<br /><br />God doesn't "answer" only when the result favors our requests. Christ's death was indeed an answer. The Father's will demanded that, despite Christ's wishes to be relieved of the cross, He must endure it for the good of all mankind and the salvation accomplished in that important act. Yes, we must fully believe God is capable of intervening and turning the tide, but we also must be fully willing to accept God's chosen plan, a plan that might involve suffering and pain for a will we might not understand. If only the book had communicated that more thoroughly.<br /><br />Then again, in this particular story, God obviously wanted His miraculous power to be demonstrated in the life of John Smith. Many individuals were drawn closer to God because of his story. If this book influences even one person to put their trust in God and to fully commit themselves to pursuing His will, then who am I to question the way it was communicated? God has the ability to woo His children to Himself through both good outcomes and bad. I think of the lives of Coleman Larsen's family. Coleman died of brain cancer just a few days after his fifth birthday, <a href="https://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2012/01/counting-up-losses.html">yet the Larsen family has demonstrated unwavering faith in God despite His decision to take their child home</a> long before they were ready. Coleman's death was as much God's "answer" as John's resuscitated life. It brings to mind that old Amy Grant chorus, "The Lord has a will, and I have a need, to follow that will, to humbly be still, to nest in it, rest in it, fully be blessed in it, following my Father's will."<br /><br />Oh, that we Christians may all have the ability to boldly approach God's throne with our requests and then, having voiced them, to humbly accept His sovereignty and His will in our lives, to praise Him in the sun and in the rain. God's plan far outstrips our own. He can accomplish what He will in any outcome. If you are looking for the flip-side to this book's equation, read the riveting memoir, <i><a href="http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2016/09/book-review-colors-of-goodbye.html">Colors of Goodbye</a></i>, a book that proves both good and bad can bring about God's glory.<br /><br />http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-impossible.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-4163187602828759024Tue, 26 Dec 2017 15:00:00 +00002017-12-28T03:40:09.273-08:00book reviewfictionletterswomen's fictionBook Review: The Letter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WhlTmNlNn_M/WjuWAegfm6I/AAAAAAAAH6w/iQ5uevv78Gwii5fIa-e0IcOxidSINRfFQCLcBGAs/s1600/letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="181" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WhlTmNlNn_M/WjuWAegfm6I/AAAAAAAAH6w/iQ5uevv78Gwii5fIa-e0IcOxidSINRfFQCLcBGAs/s200/letter.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>The premise of this book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Letter-Kathryn-Hughes/dp/1472229959">The Letter</a></i>, hooked me instantly. I love books about letters. What could be better than finding someone else's letter and tracking down the details to discover the identities of the sender and recipient and the meaning of the words? The tag line was an effective hook as well: "In one woman's past lies another woman's future..." How would the letter from the past alter the life of a woman in the future? Moreover, the book held four pages worth of accolades from blog and Amazon reviewers. It is billed as a "Number One E-book Bestseller." All of this boded well for a riveting read.<br /><br />Tina Craig volunteers at a charity shop to fill even more hours of her week away from her miserable home life with her violently alcoholic husband. One day, while sorting donated clothes, she comes across a letter in a sealed envelope. Despite bearing an address and a stamp, the letter remains undelivered and unread. Tina's curiosity compels her to open the envelope, never knowing how much this missive will change her life. The letter, dated at the outset of World War II, bears an apology and a proposal from Billy Sterling to Chrissy Skinner. How did the letter come to be in a suit-coat pocket? Why was it never sent? Did Chrissy ever know Billy's true feelings?<br /><br />Although I enjoyed the book, and toward the end did find that I couldn't put it down, I didn't quite share the level of enthusiasm of the many quoted reviewers who claimed goosebumps, buckets of tears, and broken hearts. It was certainly a good story, just not as powerful as I had expected, given the countless raving reviews. Others said, "Best book I've read in a long time," "I feel like I'm a better person for reading it," "one of the finest stories I have ever read," and "I read a lot of books but it has been some time since I read a book as good as this."<br /><br />For me, it lacked depth and seemed a bit predictable. The final love story didn't radiate with passion as I had expected. The two characters were simply thrown together on a quest, with no underlying tension or romantic gestures to speak of. I don't mean to imply that the book doesn't merit praise - it is a fine execution of a debut novel and I can see why the self-published e-book spread by word of mouth - but I would have given the book four stars if I had reviewed it on Amazon. Great premise. Great potential. Above average execution. Certainly Kathryn Hughes holds promise. She has written a second book, <i>The Secret</i>, with an equally compelling tag line: "The truth she locked away will set another woman free." Moreover, Hachette UK bought book and film rights to <i>The Letter</i>, so we will see if it is ever made into a movie.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-letter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-716340621868177225Sat, 23 Dec 2017 15:00:00 +00002017-12-23T07:00:30.921-08:00abandoned booksbook reviewChristmasclean readwomen's fictionBook Review: A Cedar Cove Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mN8zy2rMcCg/Wjk5es8V-FI/AAAAAAAAH6c/K5KWSvQueIIPJ4VmXG0k9nkDnOu6941gACLcBGAs/s1600/cedarcovexmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="190" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mN8zy2rMcCg/Wjk5es8V-FI/AAAAAAAAH6c/K5KWSvQueIIPJ4VmXG0k9nkDnOu6941gACLcBGAs/s200/cedarcovexmas.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>If you are looking for a clean read full of holiday cheer, you cannot go wrong with a Debbie Macomber Christmas story. This tale, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cedar-Cove-Christmas-Debbie-Macomber/dp/0778325911">A Cedar Cove Christmas</a></i>, was a simple modern re-telling of the Christmas story, complete with an unwed-mother named Mary Jo, her three brothers, the Wyse men, a shifty king,&nbsp; and a room over a stable full of barn-yard animals. While absolutely predictable, it was still a sweet story. Plus, I was eager to find something I could listen to while walking that wouldn't offend my own sensibilities or the tender ears of my children (the last audio book I attempted, <i>An Extraordinary Union</i>, started out the first twenty minutes with extremely foul language - somehow I can overlook a few f-bombs and d-mns, but the use of the b-word and the p-word, is a bit too much for me to stomach within the first few minutes of a story).http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-cedar-cove-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-7350735957510191375Wed, 20 Dec 2017 15:00:00 +00002017-12-20T07:00:10.482-08:00book reviewfictionBook Review: Sing, Unburied, Sing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdi5TP7Wh68/Wi6VfmxGewI/AAAAAAAAH6M/oU1n4X1UDjcMuvWY4mGIW-lECIDcMcTvACLcBGAs/s1600/sus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="326" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdi5TP7Wh68/Wi6VfmxGewI/AAAAAAAAH6M/oU1n4X1UDjcMuvWY4mGIW-lECIDcMcTvACLcBGAs/s200/sus.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>I don't recall how I stumbled upon this audio book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sing-Unburied-Novel-Jesmyn-Ward/dp/1501126067">Sing, Unburied, Sing</a></i>, by National Book Award-winner Jesmyn Ward. Billed as a <i>Time</i> Magazine "Best Novel of the Year" and a <i>New York Times</i> "Top Ten of 2017," it was beautiful, well-written, and emotionally-stirring. This story of grief and family resilience managed to swing from present to past and back to present seamlessly. Although it won't make one of my favorites for 2017, I enjoyed the listen and it kept me absorbed in a time when my focus has been drifting.<br /><br />Jojo and Kayla live with their grandparents in Mississippi. Although their mother, Leonie, is a part of their lives, her drug-addiction keeps her on the fringes. Mam, Pap, and Leonie are still struggling with the death of Leonie's brother, Given, at the hands of a white boy during what has been labelled "a hunting accident." When Leonie receives word that the white father of her children will soon be released from prison, she decides to take the kids on a road trip to pick him up.<br /><br />At times I wondered where things were leading (more character-driven than plot-driven), but my heart strings were definitely tugged as Mam struggled with cancer, Pop told stories of prison life, Leonie grappled with visitations from her brother's spirit, and Jojo grew into a man. The writing was the most outstanding aspect of the book, by far. The prose, like poetry, with each word chosen with precision, brought all the senses to life in its descriptions. There were many times when I wished to copy down passages for their beauty, but I couldn't take the time. Author Ann Patchett offered fine praise, indeed, saying, "The connection between the injustice of the past and the desperation of the present are clearly drawn in <i>Sing, Unburied, Sing</i>, a book that charts the lines between the living and the dead, the loving and the broken." I would happily attempt another book from this author, but in hardback form (the audio version was highly frustrating because the tracks lasted from thirty to forty minutes long and with a player that will not pick up right where you left off, I had to stand and listen for quite a while after I was done with my time on the treadmill).http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-sing-unburied-sing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-8192954902054649921Sat, 16 Dec 2017 15:00:00 +00002017-12-16T07:00:24.449-08:00book reviewchildren'sEnglandnon-fictionBook Review: Victoria<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--E88WfFc0Nw/WixjOjge10I/AAAAAAAAH5Y/NAJQfQNwKYQOinb6saazol4JFwFz_jboQCLcBGAs/s1600/victoria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--E88WfFc0Nw/WixjOjge10I/AAAAAAAAH5Y/NAJQfQNwKYQOinb6saazol4JFwFz_jboQCLcBGAs/s200/victoria.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>When I was studying for my undergraduate and graduate degrees, my primary focus of interest was on Britain in the Victorian era. At one point, I even hoped to write a dissertation on the problem and treatment of orphans during that time. Dickens was my favorite writer and Victorian England my favorite period. But, it has been a while since I devoted any amount of time or energy to those topics. This book was a welcome introduction back into the things that captured my attention most in my twenties.<br /><br /><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Portrait-Queen-Catherine-Reef/dp/0544716140">Victoria: Portrait of a Queen</a></i>, is a tween biography by Catherine Reef. The pictures accompanying the text will surely bring the time period and the queen to life in the minds of youthful readers. I found myself imagining what it must have been like for Victoria to wake, a few months after her eighteenth birthday, and find that she was the queen of such a vast, grand empire. Although matters of politics and national identity might be a stretch for some young readers to grasp, the vibrant illustrations help to bring the story of Victoria's life into focus. I enjoyed perusing the family tree provided at the end of the book. I would highly recommend this book to homeschooling families and young readers fascinated by British royalty.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-victoria.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-8141057455478355920Tue, 12 Dec 2017 15:00:00 +00002017-12-15T02:35:43.056-08:00ChristmasdealsMy Score of the SeasonThis Christmas feels as if it will break us. Bryce, who has had his present phone since high school, has asked for an upgraded I-phone. Sean, approaching 11, wants to get his first phone and wants an I-phone, like his brothers. I can no longer budget a couple hundred dollars per boy. We are well beyond that now.<br /><br />But all is not despair. Today I scored the best Christmas deal I will ever find. My boys are aware that I'm a thrift store shopper and that sometimes their gifts will be second-hand. I've never heard one of them complain, because I do fairly well at finding brand name clothing or books and games in good shape. So far, I've purchased two books and a game for each of the younger boys from the thrift store.<br /><br />Yesterday, while looking for a tree topper for my small hallway tree, I noticed a really decent pair of&nbsp; men's Schwinn roller blades in a size 10/11. That is Bryce's size, but I didn't think he'd want them. After I left the thrift store, however, I thought about it more and realized that Trevor would love a pair of roller blades and since his shoe size is 9-1/2, by the time spring rolls around again and he can use them regularly, they will probably fit fine. Besides, they were marked $4.99 and for that price, even if he never used them, it wouldn't be a substantial loss.<br /><br />So this morning I stood outside the doors waiting for the store to open and praying that nobody else had chanced upon the roller blades and snatched them up. I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw them in the same location and quickly settled them into the basket of my cart. I decided to skim the store again to see if anything new popped out at me. On a top shelf in the electronics section, I noticed a large globe. Sean has been fixated on geography lately. When we ride in the car, he brings up a map on his phone and asks me to try to stump him. Usually, he finds every country I mention.<br /><br />I pulled the globe down and realized it was supposed to be an electronic one (duh - it was in the electronics section). It had a cord with one prong that looked like a headphone jack. Although I was well aware it might not work at all, I decided to buy it anyway because it was only $3.99. When I got home I looked up the globe on the computer and discovered it is supposed to have a wand. Back I went, explaining to the sales clerk that I had bought the globe but it was missing a piece. Amazingly, I found the wand on a shelf nearby. Whoever checked the item in separated the wand from the globe and priced them separately. The clerk waived me away when I showed her the price tag on the wand, saying "You already paid for the globe and it goes with it." I still didn't know if the thing would work. The battery compartment on the globe had four corroded batteries in it and I had to clean the battery compartment out and put new batteries in. So, I still had my doubts.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J0ih8ErnbjY/Wi2uUe2ZrfI/AAAAAAAAH5o/YK3-K_jFPMwedJMLgrVEnF7Nxco1o6LGQCLcBGAs/s1600/globe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J0ih8ErnbjY/Wi2uUe2ZrfI/AAAAAAAAH5o/YK3-K_jFPMwedJMLgrVEnF7Nxco1o6LGQCLcBGAs/s320/globe.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VtVWMqBCpc/Wi2ud3V-k9I/AAAAAAAAH5w/WFpaS4S3Dzst9l7b56eCYQiC635O-_3_QCLcBGAs/s1600/globe3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VtVWMqBCpc/Wi2ud3V-k9I/AAAAAAAAH5w/WFpaS4S3Dzst9l7b56eCYQiC635O-_3_QCLcBGAs/s320/globe3.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br />But, when I got home, put a fresh battery in the wand and pushed the power button, the thing sprang to life, speaking an introduction to the globe. It is so cool. You press the wand to various locations and can learn all sorts of facts like capitals, population, area, etc. It even has a game asking you to find and touch various cities on the globe (this is sure to appease his love of challenge in finding locations). Plus, here's the kicker. When I googled "smart globe" to find out what piece might be missing,&nbsp; the first smart globe pictures that came up listed that item as $165. Even though this is a different (and discontinued version), I'm sure I found a Christmas steal!http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/12/my-score-of-season.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7506500163088597840.post-6835884370533978181Fri, 08 Dec 2017 15:00:00 +00002017-12-08T07:00:12.460-08:00book reviewnon-fictionBook Review: Weird-o-pedia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gtip3MHXPms/WhLZ0s09QlI/AAAAAAAAH0A/7q2lLw-i4WIVOCPS_cMaHRG4p4_ZnIGOACLcBGAs/s1600/weirdfacts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="189" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gtip3MHXPms/WhLZ0s09QlI/AAAAAAAAH0A/7q2lLw-i4WIVOCPS_cMaHRG4p4_ZnIGOACLcBGAs/s200/weirdfacts.jpg" width="142" /></a></div><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weird-pedia-Surprising-Incredibly-Supposedly/dp/1616086483">Weird-o-pedia: The Ultimate Book of Surprising, Strange, and Incredibly Bizarre Facts About (Supposedly) Ordinary Things</a></i>, by Alex Palmer, is a fun little book of tid-bits and curiosities. It reminds me of a grown-up version of the books my sons love so much - The <i>Weird But Tru</i>e series by National Geographic Kids. Although it has a similar flavor, it is definitely for adults, with a chapter devoted to "Love and Sex."<br /><br />Although I didn't take notes on some of the more interesting details, I do remember a few sections I enjoyed. After visiting the Colosseum in Rome, it was fascinating to note that Roman soldiers were paid in salt, thus the term "worth one's salt." It seems like I read this before I checked out the book, but another curious travel fact mentioned that "The first toilet in any row of public stalls is the least frequented and contains the least bacteria." Good to know. I loved the section in the animal chapter on the names of groupings of animals: "ballet" of swans, "business" of ferrets, "intrigue" of kittens, and "ostentation" of peacocks. Even though it is highly unlikely that I'll ever use such terms, I love to discover new words like that.<br /><br />The back cover encourages me to nap more, indicating that "napping can save you from a heart attack," and to surf the Internet more because it supposedly makes you smarter ("but not as smart as reading this book will"). Since my focus was taken up with the catch-up process for the Nanowrimo challenge (beginning ten days behind, due to my trip), this was an easy-to-read, light-hearted book. I think I might like to seek out another by the same author, <i>Literary Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Literature</i>.http://ofbooksandboys.blogspot.com/2017/12/book-review-weird-o-pedia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Wendy)0